The Journey and Growth of Akshaya Patra
As Akshaya Patra marks a historic milestone—25 years of nourishing children and empowering education—I had the honor of speaking with Navin Goel, CEO of Akshaya Patra USA. Our conversation explored not just the organization’s extraordinary journey from serving 1,500 meals in Bengaluru in 2000 to more than 2.35 million meals daily across 24,000 schools, but also the deep sense of purpose that drives its mission.
Under Goel’s leadership, Akshaya Patra USA has grown into a powerful network of 35+ chapters nationwide, connecting the Indian diaspora to a movement that blends technology, compassion, and community action. As we spoke, his words reflected humility and vision—anchored in gratitude for the volunteers, donors, and partners who made this journey possible.
From its founding inspiration in Srila Prabhupada’s call that no one within ten miles of a temple should go hungry to cutting-edge AI-based kitchen logistics, Akshaya Patra stands as a living example of how devotion can drive innovation. Goel shared insights about the foundation’s operational excellence, cultural sensitivity, and future plans—including global partnerships like Kenya’s Food4Education—that extend the mission beyond India’s borders.
In this interview, Navin Goel reflects on the foundation’s evolution, his own transition from corporate leadership to service, and the enduring message of Akshaya Patra: that a single hot meal can change a child’s destiny—and, through that child, the world.
Raj Shah
Question: How long has Akshaya Patra been in operation in India?
Answer: Since June 2000 in Bengaluru, which makes it 25 years as of 2025.
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Question: Whose brainchild is Akshaya Patra?
Answer: The program was founded by Madhu Pandit Dasa in 2000, inspired by Srila Prabhupada’s call that no one within ten miles of a temple should go hungry.
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Question: What does Akshaya Patra mean and who came up with this name?
Answer: Akshaya Patra means “inexhaustible vessel,” named after the legendary vessel in the Mahabharata that provided an unending supply of food. The foundation adopted this name to reflect that ideal.
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Question: How many kitchens and food trucks are there in India which are created by Akshaya Patra and how many Children get their Midday meal everyday?
Answer: As of 2025, Akshaya Patra has inaugurated its 78th centralised kitchen and serves meals to about 2.2 to 2.35 million children on school days, across roughly 24,000+ schools. Its delivery fleet is 2,200 plus vehicles that run more than 1,500 daily routes.
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Question: How long has Akshaya Patra USA been in operation?
Answer: Akshaya Patra USA has operated since the early 2000s, with IRS recognition as a 501[c][3] in June 2004.
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Question: How many Akshaya Patra chapters are there in the U.S., and approximately how many children receive their midday meal from the Akshaya Patra USA efforts? How many kitchens and food trucks are funded by Akshaya Patra USA?
Answer: Akshaya Patra USA works through a nationwide network of volunteer chapters across major U.S. cities [more than 35, spanning coasts]. U.S. chapters raise funds that support the overall program serving about 2.35 million children daily in India. U.S. donors also fund capital projects such as kitchens and delivery vehicles, for example the centrally funded Chikkajala, Bengaluru kitchen that launched in 2024.
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Question: What have been some key milestones for Akshaya Patra USA in its own journey—both in terms of fundraising and community engagement? (I am going to print excerpts of Dr. DeshPande’s speech. But we would like to hear from you.)
Answer: Highlights include the United Nations event in New York marking the 4 billion meals milestone in April 2024, chapter galas across the country that continue to raise significant funds, and expanding community initiatives such as food recovery & cause marketing partnerships in U.S. cities.Over last 5 years we doubled the number of families supporting us from 20k to 40k.
Question: Looking back to 2000, when Akshaya Patra began with just 1,500 meals in Bengaluru, what emotions or reflections come to mind as you celebrate 25 years and over 4 billion meals served?
Answer: Pride in a proven model, gratitude to partners and donors, and renewed urgency, since classroom hunger persists even as the program has crossed 5 billion cumulative meals.
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Question: How has the organization evolved operationally and strategically from a grassroots initiative in India to a globally recognized movement against hunger?
Answer: It scaled from five schools to thousands by building high-capacity “mega kitchens,” formalizing a public-private partnership with India’s PM POSHAN programme, and creating overseas affiliates in the U.S. and U.K. to broaden funding and advocacy.
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Question: The scale of operations today is staggering. What are the biggest logistical or technological innovations that have made it possible to feed millions efficiently every day?
Answer: Centralized automated kitchens, SAP and ERP integrated operations, GPS and GPRS vehicle tracking, route optimization, insulated food-grade vessels, and a strict four-hour cook-to-consumption standard. Recent work adds AI-assisted logistics across a fleet of 2,200 plus vehicles.
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Question: How does Akshaya Patra ensure the nutritional quality and cultural sensitivity of the meals served across such diverse regions of India?
Answer: Menus are localized to regional palates, designed to meet PM POSHAN nutrition guidelines, and prepared in hygienic kitchens with quality checks. The organization also participates in national oversight bodies tied to the program.
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Navin Goel’s Personal Journey
Question: You transitioned from a successful corporate career as an IIT graduate into the nonprofit sector. What inspired you to make that shift?
Answer: My journey was more a simple evolution of congruence in life with the vedic ideas of the 3rd Quartile of life.
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Question: How has your corporate background influenced your leadership approach at Akshaya Patra USA?
Answer: Bringing some Quality, Excellence, and Productivity to an Organization with Heart, love, and Care.
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Question: What were the biggest surprises or challenges you faced when moving from the corporate world to a mission-driven organization?
Answer: To see the passion and energy of our Akshaya Patra Volunteers. Their commitment was awe-inspiring.
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Question: In these years at Akshaya Patra, what has been your most fulfilling personal moment or experience?
Answer: Being able to see the Kids Smile and enjoy the meals on one hand and on the other to meet the Alumni of our schools in all sorts of walks of life. Meeting passionate and committed people all across the world, coming together to be part of this mission.
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Global Impact and Future Vision
Question: As Akshaya Patra marks its 25th anniversary, what do “the next 25 years” look like? Are there plans to expand beyond India or deepen work in education and nutrition? (Please tell us in your words how women from Kenya benefited from Akshaya Patra.)
Answer: Growth plans center on reaching more children in India under PM POSHAN, adding kitchens where governments invite partnership, and sharing know-how globally. In 2024 Akshaya Patra became the knowledge partner to Kenya’s Food4Education, a collaboration that helps local teams improve school feeding systems, which benefits girls and women who often shoulder caregiving and food preparation responsibilities.
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Question: How does Akshaya Patra USA plan to engage the next generation of Indian-Americans, volunteers, and donors to sustain its mission?
Answer: By expanding chapter leadership opportunities, student (youth ambassadors) and young professional committees, and experiential events such as chapter outreach initiatives (walk-a-thons, musicals, information booths at local events, etc.) that pair community with measurable impact.
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Question: What role do you see for technology and partnerships—with governments, corporates, or NGOs—in scaling the impact further?
Answer: Technology will keep improving kitchen throughput and last-mile logistics, for example AI AI-based route planning and IoT monitoring. Partnerships with governments anchor scale, while corporate and NGO partners contribute capital, tech, and expertise.
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Question: With the recognition from Forbes India and increasing global visibility, how do you plan to leverage this moment to attract new supporters or collaborators?
Answer: Third party recognition and media visibility create a proof point that invites co investment. The plan is to package impact data for CSR teams, foundations and HNIs, and tie campaigns to concrete outcomes like kitchens, vehicles, and school-meal coverage. Note, for example, earlier Forbes India coverage placing Akshaya Patra among the top organizations for people management, which the organization has used in outreach.
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Question: Finally, what message would you like to share with donors, volunteers, and well-wishers who have been part of the Akshaya Patra journey so far—and those who are yet to join?
Answer: Thank you for turning a simple idea into 5 billion plus meals and counting. Every kitchen, route, and serving exists because communities believe that a hot lunch keeps a child in class to build an educated, sustainable life. The next child is still waiting, and your time and gifts will reach them efficiently and transparently.
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Briefly, please tell us something that we have not covered above in the Q&A.
Beyond India’s school meals, Akshaya Patra pilots innovations such as decentralised kitchens that train and employ local women, and partners in records like mass blackboard painting for education infrastructure, which shows how feeding programmes can catalyse broader community development.
